Car-coupling



. (NoMoal.)

R. BUTT.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 418,680. Patented Jan."7,`1890.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REVERE BUTT, OF CLINTON, IOWA.

cAR-coUPLlNc. i

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No.` 418,680, dated January 7, 1890.`

Application filed October 10,1889. Serial No. 326,537. (No model.)

To all whom it/ may concern:

Beit known that I, REVERE. BUTT, a citizen its operation, and wherein provision is made for the prevention of the uncoupling of cars in case ofthe unequal elevation of either of the carsso coupled. Y A The novelty resides inthe peculiarities of construction and the combinations, arrangement, and adaptation -of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims..

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, With the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, andin whichp Figure lis a longitudinal vertical section through a portion of a coupler constructed in accordance1 with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the same.

Referring nowto the details of the vdrawings by letter, A designates a draw-head recessed at its forward end, as 'shown at A. The forward end of the draw-head is provided with a vertical aperture A2, through which the draw-bar B works. This `drawhead is formed with a head B', of suitable form, preferably substantially arrow-shaped, as shown, and is provided with an aperture or perforation B2, or otherwise shaped in the forni of a link, so as to couple With cars adapted to the use of link-and-pin couplers.

\ The rear end of this draw-bar B is pivotally portion of which is upon a less curve than its remaining portion, as shown at B4,-for a purpose hereinafter described.

Rigidly attached to or formed integral with the draw-bar B is an arm O, which projects through an aperture A4 in the bottom of the draw-head and extending rearward, as shown in Fig. l, being provided at its rear ond with an aperture A5, for attachment of a chain or.

cord for the manipulation of the same at a distance from the coupler, or it may be actuated directly by engagemeut of the arm ory elevates the portion of the draw-bar `between the head B and thespherical portion B3, which has heretofore been d confined between the walls of the vertical slot A2 in the mouth ofthe draw-head, and the longi' tudinal movement of the draw-bar when in the position indicated in Fig. 2 being limited by the head Bin one direction and the said spherical portion in the other direction. When the arm C has been moved forward sufficiently to bring the vportion of the draw-bar forward of the spherical portion out of the slot A'iafurther movement of said arm brings the parts rearward into the position in which they are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, the spherical portion being then seated in a rest or socket E, formed by .projections or lugs E on the inside walls of the draw-head forward of the transverse shaft D, the said socket or rest being concave, as shown, to correspond with the curvature of the spherical portion.

With the parts in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l to couple the cars it is only necessary to lift the draw-bar slightly by means lof the handle or arm C', When'the spherical portion will be lifted from its seat or socket, and the draw-bar falls into its loo proper position by gravity. Thus the act of coupling with another car is completed and maintained by gravitation.

The manipulation of the handle or arm C may be accomplished in a variety of ways, and I do not wish to restrict myself to any particular construction in this regard. A rod may be provided extending across the car and provided with a crank and handle for this purpose, or various other means might be employed;

As it is necessary in order to uncouple that the draw-bar should be lifted out of the vertical slot at the forward end of the draw-head, it might possibly occur sometimes, in case of unequal elevation of either of the cars coupled, that the cars would become accidentally uncoupled. Although this is not likely to occur, yet I provide against such accidental uncoupling in the following manner: Along the upper portion of the draw-head I have guide grooves or ways F, in which work the edges of a plate G, free to be moved back and forth therein when desired. This plate carries a cross-bar G', provided with depending lugs upon opposite`sides,which serve, also, to guide the plate in its movement upon the drawhead, and is also formed or provided with an upwardly-extending lug or boss G2, in which is journaled the shaft lil, which may extend upon opposite sides of the car and be provided with suitable cranks or handles for operating the same. This shaft is prevented from movement lengthwise, but is free to rotate in its bearing when desired. It carries two lugs or fingers H', which are adapted to engage recesses Il2 in the upper face of the draw-head upon opposite sides thereof and form the square shoulder H3, against which the ends of the fingers contact to limit the movement of the plate. Then the cars are coupled, this plate is moved over the forward end of the chamber in the draw-head,and the lingers H engage the shoulders H3 of the recesses Il2 and prevent the forward end of the draw-bar from being elevated out of its slot A2. Then it. is desired to uncouple, the shaft His turned in its bearings, so as to engage the fingers when the plate is moved back, so that the draw-bar may be elevated and its spherical portion rest in its socket.

lhat I claim as new isl. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the recessed draw-head slotted vertically at its forward end, of the draw-bar pivoted to a swinging link within the recess of the drawhead and working in the slot thereof and capable of movement vertically and longitudinally, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a recessed drawhead having vertically-slotted forward end, of the draw-bar loosely pivoted to a swinging link within the recess of the drawhead and provided with a substantiallyspherical portion near the center of its length, as set. forth.

3. The combination, with a recessed drawhead and the draw-barcarried by a swinging link within the same, as described, of a movable lock to prevent verticaldisplacement of the draw-bar, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a recessed drawhead and the draw-bar, of the plate moving in guides on the draw-head, and stops or fingers moving with said plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with a recessed drawhead having vertically-slotted forward end, and the draw-bar capable of vertical movement, as described, of the plate movable on the draw-head, and the transverse shaft having bearing on said plate and provided with fingers to engage the draw-head, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a recessed drawhead having vertically-slotted forward end, and the draw-bar pivotally connected with the draw-head, of the plate movable in guides upon the draw-head and provided with upwardly-extending lug, the transverse shaft rotatable in said lug, and the fingers carried by said shaft and adapted to engage stops on the draw-head, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination, with the recessed drawhead and the draw-bar pivotally connected therewith and formed with spherical portion near the center of its length, of a seat for said spherical portion within the recess of the draw-head, substantially as described.

S. The combination, with a recessed drawhead having vertically-slotted forward end, of the draw-bar pivotally connected within the re cess of the draw-head and formed with sphericalportion, and the lugs on the draw-head within therecess formed with concavities, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. The combination, with the recessed drawhead, of the transverse shaft supported in the walls of the recess thereof, the link hung on said shaft, and the draw-bar having its rear end pivotally connected with said link and provided with a handle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REX/'ERE BUT.

\Vitnesses:

ROBT. R. BALDWIN, G. A. SMITH.

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